WILMA WILLIAMS
Wilma Gem (Tennant) Williams, 96 of Daybrook, WV died on March 25, 2025 at Fairmont Regional Medical Center. She was born on August 8, 1928 in Basnettville, WV, the daughter of Uriah Nimrod (Buzzy) Tennant and Eva Belle (Toothman) Tennant. She graduated from Fairview High School in 1946 where she won the Shurtleff Toothman Award for leadership, meeting diversities head on, and being an all-around good student.
She married Billy Dale Williams on February 28, 1948, and they were married for 63 years. She is survived by one daughter, Deborah Delaney of Fairview and one son, Roger Williams of Daybrook. Surviving grandchildren are Shannon Rogers (Leonard) of Damiansville, IL, Chad and Brent Delaney of Wadestown, Daphne Mauzy (Eric) of Maysville, WV, Jamie Ingle (Mark) of Falling Waters, WV, a step granddaughter, Debby Michalski (Jay) of Monongah, and a step grandson, Sean Majors (Edie) of Alton, IL. Her great grandchildren are Kayla and Brittany Rogers, Morgan Delaney, Jakob Mauzy, and Jackson Ingle. Step great grandsons are Brad Ross and Michael Michalski and step great granddaughter is Shelli McCallister. She also has 3 great great grandchildren, and 5 step great great grandchildren.
She is also survived by two brothers; Clifton Tennant (Loretta) of Fairview and David Tennant (Patricia) of Barrackville, sister in law Correll Cummins of Vero Beach, FL, daughter in law, Linda Williams of Fairmont, former daughter in law Joyce Williams of Wana, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one son, Donald Lee Williams, one brother, Olan (Bud) Tennant and three sisters, Virginia Freeland, Rosalie Chisler, and Patricia Whitehead.
Wilma loved music and dancing and started playing the piano by ear when she was five years old. Over the years she played for many different community functions including PTA variety shows, sing alongs, and at church. She organized the Rhythmaires Kitchen Band in 1994 and played the keyboard in it for twelve years. In 1996 she was selected Ms. Senior WV and competed in the Ms. Senior America in Biloxi, Mississippi.
She was always active in community service being in the PTA, Homemaker’s Club, Clay District Fair Association, and Blacksville Senior Citizens. In 2005 she was instrumental in chartering the Western Monongalia Area Lions Club and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated humanitarian services.
Her family and friends will lovingly remember her as someone who enjoyed talking to people and always wanted to know what was going on in her family, church, and community.
Visitation will be held at the Daybrook Methodist Church on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon on March 29, 2025 with Pastor Fred Eddy officiating. Burial will follow in the Williams Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Daybrook Methodist Church, c/o Linda Harbert, 2408 Daybrook Road, Fairview, WV 26570 or the Williams Cemetery Fund, c/o Kim Brummage, 2596 Daybrook Road, Fairview, WV 26570.
The Owen-Neely Funeral Home in Blacksville is in charge of arrangements.